A baseball mitt is a player's best friend. When you find the one you like, you want to keep it for life. Despite your sentimental attachment, eventually the mitt will become worn out. Instead of buying a new one, try repairing it yourself. Replacing the laces and cleaning your mitt will help it last much longer. You and your friend will have many more baseball games together.
Step 1
Sketch or draw a diagram of the pattern of the laces in your glove for re-lacing properly later. Untie all knots in the lacing of the mitt and clip the laces with wire cutters. Pull the laces through the holes connecting the thumb section, webbing and fingers using the pliers.
Step 2
Wipe the mitt with a warm damp rag to remove any dirt or residue. Drizzle about a quarter-sized amount of mink oil onto a clean rag and rub it onto the outside of you mitt, especially the palm section and in between the fingers. Allow the mitt to dry overnight.
Step 3
Tie a knot at one end of the new rawhide lacing. Insert the end without the knot into the hole of the pinky finger by piercing the lace slightly with the leather awl and pushing it into the hole and out through the other side. Pull the lace completely through the hole with your hands or with the pliers.
Step 4
Repeat the process through each finger, the webbing, and the thumb section according to the pattern in your sketch. Tighten the lace as you go without twisting it.
Step 5
Slide your hand into the mitt after lacing each finger to make sure it isn't too tight or too loose and adjust the tightness according to comfort. Tie a knot at the end of the lace once it has been properly threaded through all of the holes from one side of the mitt to the other. Cut off any excess lace with the wire cutters.
Tips and Warnings
- Use mink oil or another leather- specific conditioner on your mitt. Purchase rawhide laces and mink oil at sporting good stores. The tools needed can be purchased at a hardware store.
- Do not use soap or other chemicals to clean your mitt.
Things You'll Need
- Wire cutters
- Pliers
- Leather awl
- Warm damp rag
- Mink oil
- Clean rag
- Rawhide baseball mitt lacing
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